HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.09.2024 Pioneer CCAFrom:Jessee, Meegan
To:Bennett, Robin; Clerk of the Board; Connelly, Bill; Cook, Holly; Cook, Robin; Durfee, Peter; Jessee, Meegan;
Kimmelshue, Tod; Kitts, Melissa; Lee, Lewis; Pickett, Andy; Ritter, Tami; Stephens, Brad J.; Sweeney, Kathleen;
Teeter, Doug; Zepeda, Elizabeth
Subject:Pioneer CCA
Date:Tuesday, July 9, 2024 2:44:19 PM
Attachments:About Pioneer 2024.pdf
Good afternoon –
Pioneer CCA recently reached out to the County, the cities of Chico and Oroville and the Town of
Paradise to share information about their CCA. Concurrently I’ve been meeting with staff from the
cities of Chico and Oroville to prepare for an August meeting of the Butte Choice CCA.
The launch of Butte Choice CCA continues to not be viable in the current market and that isn’t
expected to change for at least a couple years. However, the Pioneer CCA serves rural, inland
communities and is currently operating in parts of El Dorado, Placer and Nevada counties and is
exploring expanding into Sutter. They currently offer 10% savings compared to PG&E and have
invested in local power purchase agreements . Pioneer is interested in expanding into Butte County
and given that launching our own CCA isn’t viable and that the Pioneer goals are similar to the Butte
Choice goals staff wanted to share with each of the governing boards information about Pioneer.
If interested in further exploration with Pioneer we can participate in a feasibility study. These
studies cost $30K. Pioneer picks of half of that cost and we’d split the remaining $15K with the cities
– if all participate that would be $3,750 apiece. The Paradise Town Council will be discussing tonight.
Chico and Oroville are planning to discuss on the 16th and the Board on the 30th. Pioneer needs an
initial letter of interest this month to include us in the study.
Attached is some additional information about Pioneer. Staff from Pioneer will present to the Board
on the 30th.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions -
Meegan Jessee
Assistant Chief Administrative Officer
Butte County Administration
25 County Center Drive, Suite 200, Oroville, CA 95965
T: 530.552.3311 M: 530.588.4304
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About Pioneer
Established in 2018, Pioneer Community Energy is the locally-owned, not-for-profit
electric energy provider for Placer and El Dorado counties, Auburn, Colfax, Grass Valley,
Lincoln, Nevada City, Placerville, Rocklin, and the town of Loomis. Pioneer provides the
communities we serve with competitive rates, exceptional local service, and a choice in
energy options.
$85 million in customer savings from 2018-2023
Community Reinvestment
•More than $10 million in investment
between 2020-2022
•10-year hydro contract with El Dorado
Irrigation District
•Resource adequacy and renewable
energy credits procured through
Placer County Water Agency
•Renewable Energy Credits procured
with Sierra Pacific Industries in Lincoln
•Developing biomass plant with
Western Placer Waste Management
Authority
Commitment to Renewables
•Pioneer is the only utility in the region
that offers a 100% renewable product
•Participation in Green100 is voluntary
and affordable. Customers can select
this option at any time.
•City of Auburn opted up to Green100,
lowering the amount of CO2 being
released into the atmosphere by 2.1
million pounds (the equivalent to
avoiding 2.4 million miles driven by the
average gasoline fueled car)
PioneerCommunityEnergy.org
Competitive rates
•For 2024, all Pioneer customers will
save 10 percent or more over PG&E on
electricity generation. Average annual
savings of $200 per customer
•Projected savings of $41 million in 2024
•Find Energy award for the Lowest
Residential Electricity Rate in California
for 2020
Solar Stats
•42,000+ solar customers
•Pioneer pays ½-cent premium per kWh for
net surplus compensation over PG&E to
solar customers
•5,600 solar customers received $1.2
million in payouts in Spring 2023
•Total solar payouts since 2020 are nearly
$2 million
Stable, more affordable
electricity rates
Pioneer is proud to be recognized by the CPUC for ranking #2 among
Community Choice Aggregator procurement with Minority and
Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) certified organizations.
Providing Choice In Electricity Providers
A total of 24 Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) currently serve 200+
California towns, cities, and counties with 14+ million customers and
11,000+ megawatts of new clean energy
Pioneer Community Energy is
committed to helping customers
save money, supporting local
economic development, and
offering our exclusive 100%
renewable energy option for
customers who choose it.
With a Board of Directors
comprised of local leaders and a
Community Advisory Committee
with representatives from
throughout the region, our
customers have a voice in
shaping the programs created to
meet unique community needs.
PioneerCommunityEnergy.org